Pop up party at Shells Kitchen Pop Up

When we first pulled up to this food truck there was a line and others waiting for their orders. They had fun music playing that makes you want to dance! That alone made the environment fun on a cold day! They were definitely set up properly during the covid era, which is the first food truck we have seen actually set up this way.

They had a table outside where you could pay, the cook inside the truck (obviously) then a person outside handing out the orders and putting condiments in your bag.

We were immediately approached by one of the workers who was holding a plastic menu that had a QR code so we could pull it up on our phones, which I thought was super convenient and green!

We got to talking with the lady and was told that their food truck is a pop up food truck, which usually means they randomly find a place or inform the day before. They aren't regularly scheduled. I think that is fun and risky at the same time, but it definitely looks like they have some followers and they know where the hot spots are!

Their menu is simple and not crowded with too many items. It looks like they have found a few key items their customers like. It is easy to say they like fried food (this is the south now)! Then they have random wings (which we did not order because we just had them from another food truck, so next time we will try theirs).

The only thing I would say is misleading on their menu is the term "DOUBLE FF". They are referring to their french fries, but I would not say it was double...see below. That looks like a regular serving size to me!

This is their Kay Kay Shrimp and Fish Platter. We were super excited to dig in because it smells amazing! It was nice and hot too, which was extra special on a cold day!

The shrimp were spectacular! Crispy and full of flavor...I just wish the tails were off before they were fried because it's hard to tell where the tail is when shrimp are fried and lets face it, you don't want those in your mouth!

The fried fish on the other hand were very bland. It did not taste like it had any seasoning. Yes, it was nice and crispy, and did not have any overly fried, crisp areas that you could not eat. Thank goodness they provide a sauce with it. I'm not entirely sure what it is made out of, but it did have some spice, was mayonnaise based (very similar to the white sauce served with some Asian food here in the south). Whatever it was, we loved it! I only wish they served it in a bigger container and with all fried fish.

The fries, had a traditional seasoning on it however, they were not crispy fries. They were on the soft side, which I didn't like but Eli didn't mind.

This is their Fish Sandwich....I want you to look at this and let it sink in for a minute. What do you think when you look at this picture?

This is where I wish we started recording first impressions...I mean I'm not trying to be mean but this sandwich needs MAJOR help! Presentation wise, it fails.

The bread, yes it is sandwich bread, but it is thin and was not toasted. The steam from the fish made the bread soggy on the bottom (sorry I didn't take a picture of that). If you are going to use regular sandwich bread, toast it and maybe opt for the Texas toast size where the slices are thick!

Next, how do you expect me to eat 2 pieces of large fish filets on 2 small pieces of bread...it doesn't fit and is not evenly proportioned! The fish that we received in the combo was way smaller, and would have been a better choice than this!

Yes, we were asked what condiments we wanted...if I would have known, I would have gotten some relish or pickles with some mayo and mustard!

The fish tasted the same as the first fish...bland. I'll be honest, I was so disappointed we didn't even know how to eat so we didn't. People can get very overwhelmed with the way their food looks. If you serve food on a small plate and it is overloaded, they take a couple bites and think they are full because the plate is so big. If you serve a small portion on a big plate, they eat it all up and think they are still hungry (even though portion size was the same). The point is, our minds could not figure out how to put 2 large pieces of fish onto 2 small pieces of half soggy bread.

I don't believe in failing, but I do believe you can learn from what others say and in this case, I hope so. I have said this before, but I want all small businesses to succeed. I am so disappointed because when I look at their Facebook page, they post videos of all the prep work and they are so beautifully professional. I'm impressed by what I see on their page, but our food was not impressing.

They said they will be back and I said we would try their wings. Once that happens, I will update the rating. #foodtruckmania

Overall rating.....